I Miss Summer!

Compassion and Passion

So I figured something out about myself yesterday. I LOVE to take pictures of animals. Maybe because they don't fuss at me when I want "just one more" shot. They don't give me that cheesey grin (most of the time). And they're always camera ready...no outfit changes necessary.



Yesterday while Maggie had her riding lesson, I used the time to take some pictures of her instructor's menagerie of animals. She has five cats, four dogs and two horses. I think there are some rabbits around, too. Of course, who am I to talk?


Anyway, I have a passion for animals, that's apparent.

As for Compassion? With the holidays coming up, I've been thinking a lot about giving, especially to those who aren't as blessed as we are. So the kids and I started tossing around ideas of ways to help out, to share our blessings. We talked about checking with the local churches to see if they had ways to volunteer, or maybe to sponsor a soldier oversees through the holidays. Then one day I was reading Pioneer Woman's blog and she posted about how her kids each sponsor a child through Compassion, and they were actually going to the Dominican Republic to visit two of them. We checked out the website and decided that they'd each choose a child to sponsor.

I let them do their own searches, decide what part of the world they wanted to help, and choose whomever spoke to their heart. Sam selected a boy named Steven from Honduras, who's eight. It turns out, Stevan's birthday is also in September, like Sam's.

Maggie knew she wanted to look for a girl in Peru (llamas, of course) and found Caroline, who's 11, and has a birthday in January, just two weeks after Maggie's.

Sage wanted to sponsor a girl in Asia, so she chose Kedsarin, who is 12 and lives in a center because her parents can't afford to send her to school. Hopefully our sponsorship will help the process of getting her back home. And would you believe Kesdarin's birthday is just a week before Sage's?

I can't help but think that must be God's hand at work. Out of thousands of children that they could have sponsored, they all ended up sharing birth months.

They've already written their first letters to their sponsored kids online. I know it will be a great experience for them to give from their hearts. To help offset the monthly sponsorship cost, I've decided to give up my coffee cart habit.

Confession time...I have a BAD addiction to coffee stands. It's almost a compulsion. Whenever I leave the house, no matter where I'm going, I drive through a coffee stand for a mocha or go to the gas station for a big coffee. Then sometimes on the way home, I'll grab another cup to sip while I read emails. When I add up what I'm spending on this habit, I can easily sponsor three kids a month. Yikes. So it's been a week, and you know what? I don't even miss it! I just bring a cup of coffee from home when I hit the road so I don't need to stop anywhere. And it may sound corny, but if I get a mocha craving, I just think about the faces of Steven, Caroline and Kedsarin and it's easy to say NO to the mocha!

All that's missing are the gnomes.

With all the wet weather, the mushrooms are taking over my yard. I can't get over how many different kinds grow just in my side yard alone.

This one looks like mushroom condominiums.



I love this blue ornamental grass.

Ordinary leaf lettuce, but what a pretty shade of green.

I'm not sure what this is called, but it's in my perennial bed. The tiny yellow flowers are ready to pop at any minute.

The combination of colors on this one is just stunning. I just wish the flowers lasted longer.

A pretty white mushroom...

Can you see the tiny fairy who lives under this one?

Yummy color!

These remind me of creme brulee.

Looks like a pin cushion.


This concludes the fungii tour. I hope you enjoyed it!

Cowgirl Up!

This summer, the kids each had the chance to go to horse camp for a week in Sterling, at Solid Rock Bible Camp. I wish I had camp like this when I was a kid! They stayed in covered wagons, went on trail rides, got some great horsemanship instruction, and competed in a big rodeo at the end of the week.




The week that Maggie went, I decided to drive down to pick her up instead of having her ride the bus back to Anchorage, since it was one of the rare sunny days this summer. I'm so glad I did, or I'd never have understood just how cool the camp is.

Each camper chooses two events to participate in for the rodeo. Maggie's were Poles and Barrels. For poles, you have to turn a tight figure-8, then cross the finish line, all on a stopwatch. I was so impressed with her riding skills, considering she's done very little riding at all.

The barrels was a little more challenging for her, since she was put on a horse that did NOT want to be there. She tried as hard as she could, but Maggie just couldn't get that old nag to trot...until she turned the last barrel, that is. Then she kicked it into gear when she saw the finish line ahead. Judging by the look on Maggie's face, she was none too pleased with this horse's performance. ;)

What an awesome experience for the kids to have. Now more than ever, though, Maggie desperately wants a horse of her own. What is it about 11 year old girls and horses?

Little Su

Yesterday was so gorgeous out that we jumped into the van and headed up the highway. Our first stop was Millers Market for ice cream cones, then we headed to the Little Su to play by the river. This is the best I could do for a family shot...I'm the one with the big hair. haha!



This shot was Maggie's idea. I almost didn't get her in the frame, she jumped so high. I love the light under the bridge.

There was a lot of rock skipping going on.

Don't drop your ice cream, Sage!

And naturally, Sam stripped down to his skivvies so he could splash in the river. He found a cool salmon lure to bring home.

Bananas Baker

We took a little stay-cation in our backyard last night, and Paul treated us to his very own recipe of Bananas Baker. Oh, Grilled Banana, where have you been all my life? Ooey, gooey deliciousness on a stick.

Cut a banana into about 2" pieces, dunk them in brandy (we used Peach), roll them in brown sugar and stab with a skewer.



Roast slowly over hot coals (stay away from the flames!) until sugar caramelizes.

Come to Mama!

So yummy!!

The fire was so relaxing. What a fun way to spend an evening with kiddos. :)

Friday Fling

Maggie and I spent Friday afternoon in Palmer checking out Friday Fling, walking around the Museum Garden and driving the countryside looking for horses to photograph (Maggie's idea, not mine). It was such a nice day that I didn't mind a bit. I handed over the camera to Mag for the day, and once again she proved to me that she's a far better photographer than me. These are straight out of the camera, no cropping or other edits. And they're by no means technically perfect, but check out her composition.

She knows how to frame a shot...
and capture the focal point.

If her mom knew how to do photo editing and adjust colors and such, they would be stunning.

She leaves for horse camp today...I can't wait to see the pictures she comes home with!

Done any dumpster diving lately?

Why yes, as a matter of fact, I have. As I was leaving Bishop's Attic in Palmer yesterday (with a cart load of treasures!) I saw this cool old coat rack thingy leaning against the back of the building. At first I decided to just pass it by, since I spent my junk budget for the week already, but something told me to go back and ask about it. I knocked on the back door and asked the people sorting donations how much it was, and they said "take it, it's yours!"! Score! The old, pitted mirror is duct taped to the back and there's a serious crack in the top that'll need wood glue and some time in clamps, but I love the whole "feel" of it. It reminds me of something you'd see in a farmhouse. Stay tuned for the transformation pics!
I won't bore everyone with the mundane details of just how $hitty our summer has been, or how cold it's been, or just how much the deluge of rain has taken its toll on my poor gardens. Wait, I think I just did. Apologies. But it's all anyone can talk about lately here in Alaska. That and the insane price for a gallon of gas.
A few of my perennials have managed a meager couple of blooms, despite the conditions. My poor blue poppies. If a flower could frown, this is what it would look like.
I was very surprised to see a bloom on my Gardenia. After reading how they are pretty darn "fussy", I resigned myself to just appreciate it for it's gorgeous, glossy foliage. And it blessed me with a single, super-fragrant blossom!
And after 3 years in this spot, my Goat's Beard finally decided to show me it's namesake. Love that spikey, feathery thingy. Sorry these pictures are so dark, but we haven't seen the sun in ages.

Hang in there, Alaska! I think I see the sun peeking out!

4th Recap and Kitten Update

Yep, I'm still around. Summer is flying by, as usual, and we're doing our best to soak up every second of sunshine (they're few and far between this year). We spent the 4th at my friend Cath's house on the lake, kayaking, eating and just having fun in general.

I asked Maggie to get a picture of me in the kayak, because Paul would never believe I actually did it (I'm SO not a water person) and Cath's husband Paul totally soaked me with the jet ski about 2 seconds after this was snapped. He is the ultimate prankster. ;)
I just love this shot of the flag against the night sky (it was taken at about 11pm and there's still sunshine!). The day was a blast. I love her house in the summertime. And in the winter, we skate and snowmachine out there.

Kittens are 6 weeks old now and ready for adoption. This one's Ruger, and he's spoken for. So handsome! His eyes are turning a beautiful jade green.
And this silly girl is Daisy Red Ryder. She's the only one who still needs a family. She has the sweetest, most gentle personality, and is a real snuggler. (If anyone is interested, please email me!)

Besides playing at the lake, I've been working on my perennial beds, walking the llamas and chasing Lizzy around, trying to keep up with her. And I've been on a mission to get in shape! I'm walking everyday, sometimes doing interval training (walk, run intervals) about 4 miles. And yesterday Sage and I biked 21 miles. My hiney is hurting! And I found that I love to kayak, so I'm doing that for upper body training. First thing in the morning, when the lake is quiet, it's better than therapy to paddle across and back, with nothing but my thoughts.

The stinkin' scale has barely budged, but I feel amazing and that's a pretty big payoff.

OK, I'll try to be a better blogger and not go so long between posts. Have a great weekend!

Nancy Lake

Just a few highlights from our weekend at Nancy Lake. We rented a cabin, and brought our canoe. The kids fished non-stop for two days. Lizzy was Lizzy. Silly dog.

Sage and Sam each caught a Pike, and they actually taste pretty good.

Where's our sunshine, Alaska? I'm ready for it!

Thursday Randomocity

Sage is looking very thirteen these days. Slow down, girly! You're making me look old. She got a fresh new 'do for summer yesterday. Something about this picture...I can finally see myself in her. And I can see my mom.

Summer skies...there's nothing better! (click on the pictures to see them full size) I took this on my nightly walk with the dogs yesterday evening.
Meet Smith Kitty. She's the noisiest of the kittens (I should mention that tiny little Wesson didn't survive. After being unable to nurse enough to sustain herself, she passed away two days ago.) Ruger and Red Ryder are definitely boys. I adore Smith's "beauty mark" next to her nose. Sweet! Oh my goodness, these little furballs are so much fun to watch.


Two of my favorite summer plants: Devil's Club...

and fern. We are crowded with these on the trail behind our house. Paul wanted to know why I'd take a picture of Devil's Club. Most people hate the stuff. I say you have to respect anything that wears a coat of thorns!

Told ya this was a random post. I wanted to add a few more pics, but stinkin' Blogger isn't letting me. I guess you're off the hook...for now.

I planted a new bed of perennials this week that I'm super excited about! Two gorgeous Peonies, some ornamental grasses, some spurge, rock cress, spirea and a couple of annuals to fill in with until the new ones mature. I added a couple of herbs (dill and tarragon) for height in the back. I've never had good luck with them for some reason, though, so not holding out too much hope.

Almost everything I started from seed this year looks like crap, including the veggies, so I had to finally give up on them and go buy some decent plants at the nursery. Bummer. I went ahead and planted the tiny veggie seedlings in the raised bed, but I'm not expecting much from them. So much for fresh salads this summer. :(

I'll share some pics of the new perennial bed in the next post. Does anyone know if Peonies need special care? Someone in line at the nursery mentioned they needed ants to pollenate the blooms. Is that true?